After a narrow defeat away to Guernsey the previous weekend had put a dent in a nice little unbeaten run that Bexhill were putting together, it was back to home action on Saturday at the Polegrove and the visit of Billingshurst.

It felt like a long time since the Pirates had travelled to Billingshurst in early August for the first game of the season, and a tough challenge on their sun-baked, dustbowl of a pitch, which saw Bexhill come away 2-1 winners. This was a chance to chalk up the first double of the campaign.

Prior to kick off, the Polegrove rang out to the haunting strains of The Last Post as two minutes’ silence for Remembrance weekend was impeccably observed.

Bexhill certainly started with clear intent and on five minutes Luke Donaldson met a ball in at the near post from Ash Latuske and just failed to meet the target. Minutes later Latuske himself had a shot well saved by Trigwell in the Billingshurst goal.

placeholder image — Callum Brand celebrates the opening goal for Bexhill v Billingshurst | Picture: Amy Marshall

Quarter of an hour in and Jack Shonk burst through on the run but clipped his shot wide. It felt like Bexhill needed to capitalise on the pressure they were creating and convert one of their chances and on 25 minutes the opening goal came.

Billingshurst were all at sea from a corner and it was Callum Brand on the spot to knock the chance into the net. Five minutes later Bexhill created a great chance to double the lead when Latuske swept down the flank and set up Connor Robertson who fired over.

But if Bexhill thought the game was in the bag they had another think coming as the closing phase of the first half proved to be the best part of the game for Billingshurst. Suddenly it was the home side on the back foot and with serious work to do at the back.

No game passes these days for the Pirates without Dale Penn being called upon to put his body on the line and on 37 minutes he threw himself across the six-yard box to clear a shot away at the death that looked for all the world like it was heading into the net.

Pre-match, players and fans stood silent to mark Remembrance weekend | Picture: Amy Marshall

It was a wake-up call for Bexhill as they went into the break and goal to the good. Attacking the favoured Brockley Road end in the second half they set about the task of putting the game to bed. But, again, they would have to be patient.

There was no shortage of creativity for the Pirates. And no shortage of chances.

On 55 minutes Trigwell pulled off the save of the day – tipping a Latuske volley on to the bar. Bexhill kept coming but were frustrated by some decent defending and it would be fair to say it was all Pirates in the second half.

On 85 minutes Theo Coombs, who had dropped deeper into midfield when Kyle Holden went off with a knock, got forward and drove a decent effort wide. A couple of minutes later Coombs got on the end of a great ball from Jack Mison and at last notched the second goal Bexhill had been chasing.

On the brink of full-time Charlie Scarles slapped the icing on the cake, breaking clear through the defensive line and tucking his chance calmly past the keeper.

A 3-0 scoreline was probably fair and gets Bexhill’s push to be contenders in the league’s chasing pack back on track.

On Saturday they are at home again in the league, with a 3pm kick off against Seaford Town.